Monday, June 17, 2019

nearing 50

I've had trigger finger on two fingers in the past.  It's a painful condition you can read about here, but I will just say, it's painful and can be pretty debilitating. 

What sucks completely is that I currently have one finger I can no longer bend at all on my left hand, and two fingers that are starting to trigger and are really painful each morning, and get only slightly better during the day.

In the past, I've gone to a hand surgeon, who gave me a steroid shot.  The trigger finger continued to be a problem, and so, both times I've had issues, I've gotten surgery.  Once on my pinky of my left hand, and the second time, on my thumb on my right hand. 

This time, however, I don't want to go that route, IF I can avoid it. I don't want to go through all that again, and more than anything, I want to address whatever the underlying problem is that's causing it. 

So, I've cut out diet soft drinks.  I have no idea if there is any relation to trigger finger and diet soft drinks, but I KNOW I need a reason to quit it regardless.  And to be honest, it's been hard. I've quit Diet Dr Pepper (and/or Diet Coke) before, but I haven't ever been able to kick it for good.

I've also been eating less gluten, more fruits and veggies, and just cleaning up my diet in general. 

I've been reading all sorts of books and listening to podcasts about inflammation (because I think, ultimately, that's the root cause of my trigger finger problem), and relatedly books about brain health and heart health.  And I'm convinced inflammation is actually the root of all evil.

I made an appointment to go see a functional medicine doctor tomorrow.  I don't mind making major shifts, but I'd like a professional opinion on it.  I found this doctor online, and then listened to him on a radio show.  He seemed to have a wealth of knowledge that I want!  As they say, "Knowledge is power."

I haven't been playing much guitar, or making jewelry because of my fingers having their problems. It's all so painful, it just isn't worth it. But I LOVE those things.  And I love my hands!  And my brain! And my heart!  And honestly, MY LIFE. 

I turn 50 one week from today. 50 IS NOT old.  But I'm feeling achy joints and my brain feels a little foggy pretty often.  I refuse to simply let that slide and chalk it up to getting older. I'm still young.  And I feel like I still have a whole lot of living left to do. 

So, my gift to myself this week is this doctor's appointment, which I realize sounds a little weird.  But I'm looking forward to it... To learning more, to making some changes and seeing how they impact my joint pain (and a few other things that are minor), and then getting back to doing the things I love. 


Monday, June 10, 2019

Celebrating ONE YEAR

Today marks our one year anniversary for living in Colorado! We left Dallas on the 9th, drove about halfway to Amarillo.  And then, the next morning we finished our drive and made it to our house.  That was the most exciting drive into the neighborhood and I think back on that day often. 
June 10, 2018
I remember when we looked at our house, the first day it was on the market.  We had already looked at it online about 100 times so we sorta "knew" the house the minute we walked into it.  The views were (and are!) so breathtaking, that I could hardly believe we might live in a house like this.  SO different than Dallas, and so different than anything I had ever seen.  I had never even imagined anything like it.
Our house, they first day we arrived.
Fermin and I were both blown away with Roxborough Park the first time we ever saw it.  Fermin had played golf here one day when we were renting a house in Golden.  While he was off golfing, a friend texted me and suggested that Fermin and I go grab a drink or something just to check out the views at ArrowHead Golf Course.  No way!  Coincidentally, THAT was where Fermin was playing golf.  (I know! There ARE no coincidences.  It was all meant to be!)

He came home after golf telling me how crazy beautiful it was.  The next day, we took a drive and Fermin showed me Roxborough Park, where the Arrowhead Golf Course is.  It took a while for us to find our house, but the rest, as they say, was history from the minute we discovered this place!

Now we've been here for one round of all four seasons.  They're each distinct, and beautiful in their own way. We have beautiful hikes right out our door. We've seen bears, foxes, wild turkeys, deer, snakes and a mountain lion in our neighborhood- usually, on our street! And these rocks!!! I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such beauty every single day.

This is only the beginning. It's just YEAR ONE. There's still so much to discover.  I think moving here added years to our lives. Shaking things up, making a big change- especially such a great one like a move to Colorado- makes my life feel so much happier on a day to day basis. 

Not to put Dallas down, but I don't miss is at all.  I spent more years of my life there than I ever expected to.  I was more than ready to go.  My bags were packed before we even knew where we wanted to move.  I not only wanted, but I needed the change.  I'm so thankful that Fermin wanted it too.  (He wasn't as dramatic about it, but he also wanted the change!)

I could say, "I just wish we hadn't waited so long" because part of me thinks that way.  But the biggest part of me, the wisest part of me instead believes that things happen exactly when and how they're suppose to. 

We live in Colorado now.  And we LOVE it.